Fishless Cycling

[rabbut]

Thanks for the replies guys. I have added a teaspoon of bicarbonate soda and checked ph and its gone pretty high. I have been doing this fishless cycle for 5 weeks now...lol and am wondering if its ever gonna happen!!

A pH of 6 or below will stall a cycle. Baking soda, as mentioned before, raises the KH (carbonate hardness) which it turn raises the pH. Below pH 7, the multiplication speed of bactiria reduces, slowing a cycle. Keeping the pH up during a fishless cycle will do no harm, it will need considering when you stock with fish though.
HTH
rabbut

 

[Dunkal]

My ph was very low, maybe thats why ammonia was so slow in coming down.
How much Soda should I be adding every day? Will the ph come down so it will be for the fish??

 

[Underwurlde]

I am not saying that pH is a thing that one wants to fiddle with... however, pH will be all over the place during a cycle.

Adding Bicarb is also another food source for the bacteria, that may be missing in softwater areas.

Actually, better ask, do you know if you live in a softwater area?

Will the ph come down so it will be for the fish??

Sorry, can you re-phrase that for me please?

Andy

 

[Dunkal]

What I meant was will the ph come down enough to be safe for the fish??
I live in a very soft water area.

 

[Underwurlde]

What I meant was will the ph come down enough to be safe for the fish??

I know you meant up... & I'm sure it will.

What is the pH of your tap water?

Andy

 

[Amunet]

You don't have to keep adding in baking soda every day. I do water changes once a week and add it in then. You could probably get away with not adding any longer than that. Just test the pH every few days to see what it's at and to see if it dropped any and then add more baking soda or whatever

 

[Dunkal]

Ph of tap water seems to be about 6. I am in Scotland and water is very soft here.
How much soda should i add??

 

[Amunet]

Depending on how large the tank is, I'd add in about a teaspoon or 2 at a time. Let it sit and mix for about an hour or so, test pH and add more if you want it higher. Just remember to keep note on how much you're adding and what the pH is at so you know how much you'll have to keep adding to get a certain pH if you want to keep it up after you get fish.

 

[Dunkal]

Thanks guys, I have been testing the water now after adding the soda and Ammonia is going down very quick now. Now I know why the cycle had stalled, the ph was far too low.
Thank you Amunet.